Chapter 3
I went to the black market to track down an old ticket broker I knew, hoping to score another southbound pass.
Passing under the streetlight at the corner, I caught sight of that familiar, frail silhouette. It was Mia, once again.
She was lugging a big basket, handing out loaves of white bread to a group of homeless folks huddled against the wall.
I was about to take a detour, but she spotted me, dropped her basket, and ran straight over.
Panting, sweat beading on her forehead, she dug out a few crumpled bills from her pocket and pressed them into my hand.
Mia pulled out her pen and paper and scribbled quickly [I'm sorry. Edward didn't mean it.]
She held the note up to me, her eyes pleading [Edward's got a bad temper, please don't be mad at him.]
I stared at the bills, still warm from her pocket, feeling all sorts of things churning inside. I pushed her hand away.
I don't need your money. Keep it for yourself. Just keep your distance from Edward, I said.
Suddenly, Mia covered her mouth and gagged.
Her face turned deathly pale, and she had to clutch the streetlight pole, unable to even stand up straight.
Blushing, she pulled a hospital report from inside her coat and handed it to me. It read [Six weeks pregnant.]
My mind went blank with a bang.
She was pregnant with Edward's baby.
In my last life, I was pregnant around this time too, but Edward forced me to have an abortion.
Mia scribbled another note.
[Edward says he's not married, but I can sense he's got secrets.]
She looked up at me, her gaze so pure I almost couldn't look her in the eye.
[If he's lying to me, I'll take the baby and leave. I'd never ruin someone else's home.]
My heart clenched with fear. In my last life, it was Mia's decision to walk away that made Edward lose his mind.
Edward thought I was the one who made Mia leave, and as revenge, he got my brother's legs broken and had my parents strung up on the back of a speeding truck.
I spun around and rushed into the little corner shop, my hands trembling as I dialed the number for my parents' brigade out in the countryside.
The phone rang for what felt like forever before someone finally picked up. My mother's voice came through, weary and aged. Who is it
Mom! It's me! Did you get on the bus yet
Are you on the train to Wisten I called out, my voice trembling with worry.
Yeah, Claire, we just got on; the train left. Your dad and I are heading south to stay with your uncle, Mom answered.
Relief washed over me, and I couldn't hold back my tears. Mom, take care.
Claire, if life gets too tough, come find us. Even if we have to beg, at least we won't have to suffer like this, Mom said.
Mom's words cut me to the bone. I bit down hard on my lip, holding back my sobs.
After hanging up, I wiped my tears away. As long as my parents were safe, Edward would never have a hold on me again.
This time, I wasn't giving Edward any chance to snap. If I left, I'd leave for good, with nothing tying me down.
As I turned to head back, I spotted a bunch of hoodlums in bell-bottoms, lugging boomboxes, crowding around Mia.
These were the local thugs, notorious for harassing any girl who happened to be alone.
They were cracking dirty jokes, their hands grabbing at Mia, pawing her without a shred of decency.
Well, well, a mute, huh That's perfect. Can't even yell for help! one of them snickered.
Mia shrank into herself, terrified, her mouth open but not a single sound escaped. Big tears rolled down her cheeks.
She flailed her arms, desperately trying to shove those filthy hands away, but she was no match for their brute strength.
I clenched my fists, remembering how powerless I'd been in my last life and how Edward had just watched with that icy stare.
I couldn't just stand there and watch Mia get assaulted.